Drip-feed irrigation saves day for grower

摘要

MOTHER Nature can be a harsh teacher, Queensland farmer Tim Linnan from Lake Clarendon, near Gatton, has taken the lessons served up to him and put them to good use. "One thing the drought did show us was how to use trickle irrigation," Tim said. Today, about 90% of his mixed small cropping farm is under trickle irrigation. He currently has about 6 hectares (15 acres) under cherry and Golden Grape tomatoes, which are more of a "fill in" crop -just enough to keep his full-time workers going through the holidayperiod. Tim is a fifth-generation farmer In the region . who now operates in conjunction with his father Tom, his brother Bruce, and in more recent years, Tim's own son Thomas.